‘Despite govt order, RTI replies not up on official websites’
TNN | Jan 5, 2019, 05.19 AM IST
MUMBAI: Activists in the state have asked chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to immediately direct all government offices under him to curb growing incidents of RTI violations.
In particular, they want the CM to direct officials to implement two government circulars. One which requires public authorities to upload RTI queries and responses on their websites. And secondly, allowing inspection of all public records on Mondays between 3pm and 5pm. This would help bring in transparency into the process and quash complaints of blackmail against activists, they said.
Activists have alleged that bureaucrats do not publish RTI queries and responses on official websites despite a state government order. Besides, officials do not follow directions to allow inspection of public records, said RTI activist and former central information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi on Friday. “If information is available on the website, no one can be blackmailed. This needs to be done in a searchable manner and we would be happy to discuss it with the IT department,” he said.
A signature campaign has been launched to draw the chief minister’s attention to non-compliance to government circulars. A memorandum of demand from the state’s RTI and social activists is being circulated among prominent citizens to garner a wide support in the form of a 1,000 signatures.
Gandhi said recently a BMC ward office put up a banner flashing photographs of four people barring them entry into the office premises. He said this apart, verbal abuse is very common in government offices.
TNN | Jan 5, 2019, 05.19 AM IST
MUMBAI: Activists in the state have asked chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to immediately direct all government offices under him to curb growing incidents of RTI violations.
In particular, they want the CM to direct officials to implement two government circulars. One which requires public authorities to upload RTI queries and responses on their websites. And secondly, allowing inspection of all public records on Mondays between 3pm and 5pm. This would help bring in transparency into the process and quash complaints of blackmail against activists, they said.
Activists have alleged that bureaucrats do not publish RTI queries and responses on official websites despite a state government order. Besides, officials do not follow directions to allow inspection of public records, said RTI activist and former central information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi on Friday. “If information is available on the website, no one can be blackmailed. This needs to be done in a searchable manner and we would be happy to discuss it with the IT department,” he said.
A signature campaign has been launched to draw the chief minister’s attention to non-compliance to government circulars. A memorandum of demand from the state’s RTI and social activists is being circulated among prominent citizens to garner a wide support in the form of a 1,000 signatures.
Gandhi said recently a BMC ward office put up a banner flashing photographs of four people barring them entry into the office premises. He said this apart, verbal abuse is very common in government offices.
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